And why is the craft beer hangover generally worse than other hangovers?
Craft beer is generally created from small, independent and traditional breweries (as determined by the Brewers Association). Other names given to craft breweries are brewpubs, microbreweries, and regional breweries. A brewery is considered small if it produces no more than two million barrels per annum. If 25% of the brewery is owned or controlled by any non-craft alcoholic beverage industry member, then the brewery is not considered to be a producer of craft beer. The final criterion is determined whether the brewery either has an all malt flagship product, or at least half of its volume in either all malt beers or beers that use adjuncts to improve the beer’s flavor. Normally, barley is used in brewing but brewers may use other adjuncts such as oatmeal, rye, fruits and spices. The most common alternative adjuncts used are corn and rice. They have little impact on the beer’s flavor and usually cost less than barley. The drawback is a beer that tastes thin and at times almost flavorless.
Because microbreweries also use the same ingredients as regular beer, it also has the same potential for ill-effects. Whether it’s a commercially produced beer or a locally made one, craft beer hangovers are primarily determined by the alcohol content in the craft beer. Maximum alcohol content (in beer) varies per state and per country, but generally, craft beer has a lot more alcohol than mass produced beers. On average, craft beers usually contain 7% to 9% alcohol content.
What everyone could probably agree on is that anyone who intoxicates themselves with too much alcohol will get the dreaded hangover effect, however the craft beer hangover happens with a lot less volume of beer given it’s strong potency.
Like other hangovers, the craft beeer hangover includes bad decisions, loss of muscle control, all the same risks as regular beer. However, craft beer can (with its higher alcohol content) catch you off guard if you are not careful. Drinking four microbrews can be like drinking a twelve pack of domestic light beer (with regards to the alcohol content). That is an important point to remember, because as such generally it will take less craft beer to get a hangover than mass produced beer that has less alcohol (by volume).
Congeners are the byproduct of fermentation and are thought to contribute to hangovers. Darker forms of alcohol — for instance, dark beers — are notorious for having higher levels of congeners than other types of alcohol. A majority of craft beers tend to leave congeners and other brewing remnants unfiltered because it can lead to richer and bolder colors, aromas and flavors. However, these same elements can lead to hangovers worse than mass-produced brews. Of important note, some will argue that these assertions are over-stated. What do you think, is the craft beer hangover worse than other hangovers? Leave your opinion in the comment section below.
